Sports Broadcaster,
event host & MEDIA COACH
ABOUT
James has been at the forefront of UK sports broadcasting for the past 30 years, from written press to radio and television. A BAFTA, RTS and Sony Radio award-winning broadcaster, James is a highly respected journalist with a proven track record of presentation, story generation and delivery. James is also an accomplished and experienced host for private functions such as gala dinners and golf days as well as providing a strong voiceover for branding indent work or hosting podcasts. James provides a tailored media training and broadcast coaching service for both corporate and individual clients. An eye for detail and a passion for getting the job done well are key attributes along with a love of engaging with people.
He is a keen follower or sport and enjoys going to watch football with his two daughters.
James is also involved in the running of a beauty salon business, which provides a total gear change from the broadcasting work, a view from a totally different perspective – although he is not a therapist!
To switch off you’ll often find him either out for long walks with his dog, in the gym or just watching a good documentary.
James is based in the South of England on the Hampshire coast.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- BAFTA Award for Sport Production 2017
- Royal Television Society Award 2015 for Best Sports Event
- Sony Radio Gold award 1995 for Best Sports Coverage
- Ba (hons) in Broadcast Journalism
- HND (distinction) in Design Communication
WORK HISTORY
2023 – Present. Podcast host & broadcast sports journalist
Presenter & co-host for sports and lifestyle podcasts. Writer and broadcaster covering golf, football and a variety of other UK sports. Media trainer and broadcast coach to corporate and individual clients.
2014 – 2023 Sky Sports Golf presenter and reporter
Studio presenter of DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and the Sky Sports Golf Debate Show. SkyCart reporter on-site at PGA Tour events. On-site presenter and reporter at DP World Tour events. Conducted big set-piece sit down interviews with Major winners for documentary usage. Written articles for the Sky Sports website around major events and interviews.
2003 – 2019 Sky Sports News reporter
On-site reporter and presenter for SSN at Masters, US Open, US PGA, The Open, Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup as well as all UK-based events on the schedule. Also set up and delivered stories and interviews for the channel (during and away from tournaments) as well as “Special Report” half-hour programmes – subjects included “cheating” in golf, Seve Ballesteros interview at home while suffering with brain tumour (then sadly also the Seve Ballesteros funeral), Tiger Woods interviews as well as week-to-week breaking stories from the main Tour’s. On-site presenter and reporter at European Tour/DP World Tour events as well as Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. Studio rolling reporter VT voiceover edit’s of Major events for hourly news updates.
2015 – 2023 Written articles for BHAFC and Sky Sports
Various written pieces for the Brighton match day programme as well as the Sky Sports website.
2016 Benali’s Big Race
Media communication and management for Francis Benali’s charity challenge to run around all Premier League and Championship grounds – in aid of Cancer Research. Liaising closely with the charity and organising media events with them ahead of and during the challenge, whilst also ensuring media were informed, invited and engaged with the event before, during and after its completion. Maintaining good contact with media outlets, providing press updates/releases, managing social media channels and providing self-shot and edited videos on the day in a VNR format for TV channels – used by Sky, ITV and the BBC.
2015 – 2023 Patron of the Friends of PICU Charity
Patron of the children’s hospital charity, based in Southampton. James has hosted a number of fundraising golf days as well as charity ball events and auctions.
2003 – 2005 TalkSport
Providing match day reports from Southampton and Portsmouth home matches as well as news updates during the week into both the breakfast and drivetime shows. James was taken as a reporter to Singapore in 2005 for the IOC meeting where London was ultimately awarded the 2012 Olympic Games.
2003 – 2005 ITV Meridian
Freelance reporter for their weekly “Soccer Night” programme covering South Coast football clubs.
2001 – 2005 UEFA.com
Champions League commentator remotely from Hammersmith or UEFA HQ in Nyon, Switzerland. Reporter for tournament video previews of Euro 2004 with stadium, fan and city guides. Reporter throughout the main tournament in Portugal during summer 2004.
2001 – 2003 Southampton FC
Programme director for “The Saint” a digital radio station, also worked as group programme output director for the Radio First group. Worked closely with the in-house media department on developing strategy to enhance and execute messaging in a tailored manor. Dealing with programme planning, production and presentation as well as match commentary along with staff management and maintaining/developing relationships with other Southampton FC departments and external stakeholders.
1995 – 2001 Capital Radio Group (South)
Journalist and newsreader for Southern group stations Power FM, Ocean FM & South Coast Radio. Football show producer, presenter (pre-match build-up and post-match phone-in) and match commentator for South Coast Radio covering Southampton FC and Portsmouth FC home and away. Freelance reporter for “The Way It Is” on 95.8 Capital FM.
1993 – 1995 Southern FM
Freelance reporter/newsreader for Southern FM. Part of their team of six who won the Sony Radio Gold Award for our coverage of the arrival of the Tour de France across Sussex and into Brighton in 1994.
1990 – 1992 Hastings & St Leonards Observer
Freelance newsroom assistant and copywriter.
James has always been the most dependable and personable colleague to work alongside.
Jason Wessely, Director of Golf, Sky Sports
He made his mark delivering high-profile editorial content as well as his can-do attitude and team spirit.
James’ knowledge of sport is exemplary, from covering Premier League football, NFL Superbowl weeks and high profile golf tournaments, to attending Arnold Palmer’s funeral.
Victoria Rudling, Senior Production Manager, Sky Sports
He applies the same hard working attitude to everything he does – big or small, serious or fun.
He is always well researched and can adapt to almost every situation.
James is calm mannered, a great team member and one with a fantastic sense of humour too!
James was a passionate supporter of the charity’s cause.
Mark Hilder, Friends of PICU charity
He was incredibly kind and generous with his time and creative ideas in actively supporting our fundraising activities. This included co-hosting charity golf days and gala ball’s as well as organising his own family fundraising events.
I could not have been more proud of his commitment, support and importantly his awareness of the work of Southampton’s Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Intensive Care Unit.